LG UR781 vs Sharp GP6765

In HDR mode, LG UR781 unfortunately does not impress with its brightness. In tests on five screens, the television achieved only around 200 nits, which is quite a low value for HDR standards. This brightness is comparable to levels typical for SDR, which means that HDR effects are not sufficiently vivid, and the picture may look less impressive, especially in dynamic, bright scenes. In HDR mode, it has certain limitations in colour reproduction. This means that colours may not be as intense and rich as in televisions that handle a wider colour gamut better. In practice, this can make the image less vibrant and dynamic, and HDR effects may not be as spectacular as one might expect. Additionally, UR781 LG has some issues with accurate colour representation in HDR mode, which makes content look less lively.

In movie mode, the television Sharp GP6765 reaches a brightness level of 300 nits; unfortunately, this is quite an average result. Such brightness is closer to the standard SDR image than what full HDR experience should offer. As a result, the television is unable to convey the full depth and dynamism of the picture that one might expect from a good HDR mode. Visual effects that in other models are vivid and detailed may appear muted here, and high-contrast scenes won’t look as impressive. However, it's worth noting that when comparing this result with televisions in this budget, it is a decent score. A positive feature is the fact that the television supports a wide colour gamut of DCI-P3 at 92.5% thanks to the implementation of quantum dots (Quantum Dot/QLED). This is quite a respectable result, especially in this price range. As a result, colours are vibrant and more saturated, which certainly impacts the image quality, although it doesn't fully save the HDR experience due to the limited brightness.

Colour reproduction in LG UR781 in Filmmaker Mode, which although it is the best mode available from factory settings, is not without its flaws. First and foremost, the issue is with white balance, where the graph shows dips in the blue colour level. This phenomenon results in a shift towards yellow hues, making the image warmer than it should be. Such deviation means that the colours on the screen are not reproduced naturally, which may be particularly noticeable in scenes with white or neutral backgrounds. This can be confirmed by the Color Checker Test, which showed that some colours "escape" into other shades, indicating that the LG UR781 TV does not display colours accurately. This distortion can affect visual experiences, making film scenes seem less realistic and details may be displayed in incorrect colours, negatively impacting overall picture quality.

In terms of contrast, analysis of the gamma graph revealed drops to a level of 2.0, while the optimal value should be 2.4. This means that the TV may display darker parts of the image brighter in some scenes, reducing their depth and dynamism. Additionally, on the EOTF curve, which is responsible for brightness reproduction, an unnatural spike was noticed at the beginning. This phenomenon may result in excessive brightness boosting in the brightest parts of the image, leading to a loss of details in very bright scenes.

Sharp GP6765 was launched in movie mode, which is the best setting for colour reproduction. Unfortunately, even so, the quality is still far from ideal. Starting with the white balance, in SDR mode the graph shows significant increases in the red colour. This effect can make the image appear slightly yellowish, leading to distortion of natural skin tones. As a result, viewers may notice that some scenes seem unnatural, and colours lose their authenticity. In HDR mode, the situation changes dramatically – the dominant colour becomes blue. Such a strong shift towards blue also negatively impacts the colour balance of the image, which can lead to a loss of detail in cool tones. Viewers may feel that the image is somewhat cold and out of balance, which is further highlighted by the fact that the television does not achieve optimal colour reproduction. Tests conducted using the Colour Checker tool confirm these shifts in several tested samples.

When it comes to contrast, in HD mode the range shows a significant jump at the beginning of the graph, but then remains close to the reference line at 2.4. This means that in most scenes, the television is able to deliver a satisfactory level of contrast. For the viewer, this means better perception of details in shadows and greater depth of the image, which affects their overall viewing experience of movies and TV shows. In HDR mode, however, the EOTF curve shows large fluctuations both at the beginning and at the end of the graph. Such fluctuations can lead to inconsistencies in detail reproduction in bright and dark areas of the image. For the viewer, this means that in scenes with intense light, such as explosions or dynamic actions, essential details may disappear and the image may appear blurry. Conversely, in darker parts of the image, the lack of clear differences in shades can cause details to blend into a uniform patch, which significantly reduces the viewing quality. Although movie mode offers the best factory settings in the GP6765, both in the context of colour reproduction and contrast, significant problems do exist.

After calibration, colour reproduction in SDR content is quite good. The white balance has been effectively improved, resulting in natural, balanced hues across different scenes. The gamma has also been adjusted, providing a more precise representation of details in the shadows and bright areas of the image. As a result, the LG UR781 TV performs well in everyday use, offering solid colour quality and clear, well-balanced images in SDR mode.

However, the situation is less favourable for HDR content. The LG UR781 TV does not support a wide colour gamut, which limits the depth and richness of colours that HDR can provide. The EOTF curve deviates from the ideal, leading to excessive highlighting of details in the bright areas of the image. Unfortunately, this approach results in significant colour reproduction errors, as confirmed by tests on the Colour Checker. Additionally, the low brightness level of the panel further negatively impacts HDR image quality, causing the effects of dynamic range to not be fully realised and colours to appear washed out.

Despite some shortcomings in HDR mode, the TV has significantly improved after calibration, especially in SDR content. The enhancement of white balance and gamma has notably increased image quality, providing a more natural and cohesive colour reproduction. Compared to its pre-calibration state, the difference is clear, and the LG UR781 TV now offers better performance in everyday use, particularly in standard dynamic range.

After calibration, in movie mode, the white balance on the Sharp GP6765 TV for SDR content improves significantly. All the lines on the graph come closer to the reference line. Although they are not perfectly straight, the achieved results are satisfying, considering the price range of this model. Such an improvement in white balance translates into a more natural and accurate colour reproduction, positively affecting the overall visual experience and immersion in the films being watched. Regarding the colour gamut, the initial jump on the graph was not removed, however after this error, the rest of the lines represent the expected effect much better, making the image more coherent and pleasant to view.

In the case of HDR content, the white balance performs slightly worse compared to SDR content, but it is still significantly better than before calibration. The improvement in white balance in HDR contributes to greater colour consistency, making watching films more enjoyable, despite some shortcomings that may occur. Speaking of contrast, it is difficult to claim significant improvement. Our specialists noted that the lack of control over dynamic tone mapping settings prevented achieving significant improvement in EOTF, leading to uneven brightness reproduction.

Despite some shortcomings related to the lack of settings options for dynamic tone mapping, the Sharp GP6765 TV has gained a new face after proper calibration. The improved white balance and better colour reproduction in SDR mode have made the image more natural and pleasant to the eye. Although there are still areas that require improvement, especially in HDR content, the TV offers satisfying visual experiences, making it an interesting choice in its price range.

Let's now address the function of smoothing tonal transitions and its impact on overall picture quality. As illustrated by the photo on the left, this function performs exceptionally mediocre; we chose the "low" level, which does not enhance quality but also does not blur the film grain. There is a possibility to increase the strength of this function, which could soften this gradation, but one must consider that the image will be too softened in certain scenes.

On the other hand, regarding image scaling, the television does not perform outstandingly, which may be particularly noticeable with lower resolution content. The LG UR781 television applies a slight, artificial sharpening boost, making the image appear sharper; however, this mainly results from the application of artificial contours. For some users, this may be an advantage, as they prefer more vivid, pronounced details. However, this is a subjective matter—such an effect may not appeal to everyone, especially if they desire a more natural appearance of the image.

On the Sharp GP6765 television, the “10-bit colour reproduction” feature performs well in the tested scene with light bulbs. Setting this option to “medium” yields satisfactory results, as there are no issues with grain smoothing or blurring of key image elements. The “low” setting also delivers positive results, providing a clear image without adversely affecting details. Such smoothing options for tonal transitions contribute to enhanced visual quality, allowing for more natural colour transitions.

In terms of image scaling, the Sharp GP6765 television has its strengths, such as the absence of overscan when displaying test material. This allows viewers to enjoy a full image without losing any details from the edges. However, in the tested scene with the model, some shortcomings arise. The branches or trousers do not look their best. Their outlines appear slightly jagged, suggesting that effective edge smoothing techniques were not applied. This can make some details look somewhat distorted, which may affect the overall visual experience.

The LG UR781 TV offers quite decent smoothness for movies, thanks to the "True Motion" option, which allows users to adjust the motion smoothing level on a scale from 0 to 10. Users can choose whether they want to maintain a more traditional, cinematic effect with a slight stutter (lower settings) or prefer a smoother image with a theatrical quality, which, although slightly deviating from the cinematic standard, may appeal to many.

In dynamic sports content and gaming, the LG UR781 TV performs worse. The TV has a 60Hz panel, which limits its interpolation capabilities to these values; therefore, smoothness can be improved in films, but motion blur cannot be reduced. Additionally, the lack of support for 120 Hz and BFI (Black Frame Insertion) technology means that fast-moving objects become blurred, and the panel's response time is too slow, negatively affecting clarity in fast scenes. As a result, the TV may not meet the expectations of gamers and sports fans who are counting on a smooth, clear image without motion blur.

When it comes to blur and motion fluidity, the Sharp GP6765 television performs quite averagely. It is equipped with a 60 Hz panel, which works well for films. The TV features a motion smoothing function called "Motion Enhancement". With this feature, we can control the fluidity of the motion, allowing us to choose whether the image should appear in a cinematic frame or be more fluid - theatrical. This smoothening function should satisfy most users who focus on film content. However, in the case of sports or games, the Sharp does not perform at its best. In the tested scene with the UFO alien, there is noticeable blurriness, suggesting that the low response time of the panel negatively affects the sharpness of moving objects. Such effects can be particularly frustrating during dynamic sequences where fast movements are common. For those who prefer watching sports or intense video games, the limitations in motion fluidity may be discouraging, making the Sharp GP6765 not necessarily the ideal choice in this category.

When playing on a console, the LG UR781 TV offers several significant features that can affect the gaming experience, but it also has some limitations. On the plus side, it includes ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), which automatically optimises the picture settings by switching the LG UR781 TV to low latency mode, which is beneficial for gamers. The TV also supports correct implementation of HGiG, meaning HDR games look as intended by the creators.

Unfortunately, it lacks support for Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which can result in worse gameplay smoothness, especially in more dynamic games. It also does not support Dolby Vision mode for gaming, which limits HDR picture quality in games using this format. The TV has a 60Hz panel, so it does not support higher frequencies at other resolutions, such as 1080p@120Hz, 1440p@120Hz, or 4K@120Hz, which is a significant downside for gamers expecting smoother gameplay at higher resolutions. There is also no support for G-Sync technology, which limits image synchronisation in games.

On the positive side, the presence of a Game Bar feature allows for quick access to settings for gamers and makes it easier to adjust picture parameters during gameplay.

The functionality of Sharp's GP6765 for gamers leaves a lot to be desired. Although this model is equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports, which theoretically should offer a range of modern conveniences, in practice the situation is much worse. The only feature that truly utilises the capabilities of this standard is Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). Unfortunately, the lack of support for key features such as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) or HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG) makes this TV a less appealing choice for gamers. VRR is essential for eliminating issues with tearing and stuttering, which is particularly important in dynamic games where smoothness of image is crucial. Meanwhile, HGIG allows for optimal HDR reproduction, increasing immersion and visual quality. Although it might seem that the implementation of Dolby Vision will bring significant benefits, for gamers it is completely useless due to the very high input lag in this mode.

One could say that the presence of HDMI 2.1 ports in Sharp GP6765 is a marketing trap that can mislead users into thinking that the HDMI standard automatically entails all its conveniences. Expecting full functionality that should accompany HDMI 2.1 may lead to disappointment.